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Monthly Defense News Recap – May 2022

This week’s Quwa Premium article is a recap of some defence news items from around the world. Besides a basic overview of the news, this article also offers short-form analysis of each issue.

Turkey Launches Second Reis-Class Submarine for Sea Trials

On 23 May 2022, Turkey’s Gölcük Naval Shipyard launched the Turkish Navy’s second Reis-class (i.e., Type 214TR) submarine – TCG Hizir Reis – for sea trials. The Gölcük Naval Shipyard also celebrated starting the production work of the sixth and final Reis-class submarine, the TCG Selman Reis.

The Reis-class submarine program is the result of a 2009 contract between Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) and the German contractor ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). Under the deal, which was reportedly valued at € 2.060 billion at the time of signing, Turkey would manufacture six customized Type 214 submarines domestically. The first of these boats, the TCG Piri Reis, is slated to join the Turkish Navy fleet in 2022. Turkey’s expecting to deliver the sixth and final ship by 2027…

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Turkey Aims to Start Building its MILDEN Submarine in 2025

During the launching ceremony of the TCG Hizir Reis, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that Turkey will start constructing its indigenous submarine design, MILDEN, in 2025 at Gölcük.

The MILDEN (Milli Denizalti or National Submarine) is the flagship program of Turkey’s efforts to produce its series of indigenous submarines. In addition to the MILDEN, Turkey is also working on its own miniature diesel-electric submarine (SSK) – i.e., the STM500 – and a larger, export-oriented design known as TS1700…

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Turkey Readies Indigenous Turboshaft Engine for Test Flight

Mahmut Faruk Akşit, the Chairman and General Manager of Tusaş Engine Industries (TEI), announced that Turkey’s first indigenous turboshaft engine, the TS1400, is becoming ready for its maiden test flight. The prototype TS1400 will have an output of 1,570 shp, which is 100 shp higher than the original requirement.

TEI will test the TS1400 from the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) T-625 Gökbey utility helicopter, which is also Turkey’s first indigenous helicopter design.

Turkey’s SSB initiated the TS1400 program in February 2017. Under the original roadmap, TEI was aiming to develop the TS1400 in eight years. The initial development phase was to finish in 2019. From that point, TEI was to manufacture the prototype engine, and, in turn, flight test it by 2023. TEI tested the TS1400’s “core” in June 2020. Based on Akşit statements, it seems that the TS1400 program is on schedule…

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